THE ARTS AT MARKS GARAGE Greg Howell, left, takes turns starring in the one-man comedy "Fully Committed," playing at The ARTS at Marks Garage. Howell and Andrew Meader play the role on different nights.

Greg Howell shines
in 1-man show

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By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com

Honolulu has seen any number of one-actor shows in recent years in which a single performer plays multiple characters. The Tim Bostock Productions presentation of Becky Mode's Off-Broadway hit, "Fully Committed," directed by Scott Rogers at the ARTS at Marks Garage, is the first in which two actors, Andrew Meader and Greg Howell play the role on different nights.

Howell was superb in his opening night performance Saturday.

Howell's core character is Sam Delazowski, a reservationist at a New York City restaurant with a "global fusion" menu so trendy that all but the very, very rich and famous must make reservations months in advance. As we meet him, Sam is embarking on a reservationist's day from hell. The senior reservationist has phoned in with car problems, another is nowhere to be found, and there's no reservation on the books for a dreaded restaurant critic and his wife.

Sam must juggle the demands of celebrities' assistants for special accommodations at specific tables, take orders from New York's rich-and-obnoxious, explain to all lesser mortals that the restaurant is "fully committed" for the next several months, screen calls for "The Chef" and the imperious maitre d' (Jean-Claude), and deal with a few personal problems as well.

And guess who gets stuck with janitorial duty when a woman has a major "accident" in the ladies' room?

'Fully Committed' Where: The ARTS at Marks Garage When: 8 p.m. today and tomorrow and 4 p.m. Sunday, and 8 p.m. May 28 to June 1. Tickets: $15; dinner-show package available Call: 521-9699

Howell skillfully creates a kaleidoscopic assortment of characters. Sam emerges as a complete three-dimensional character. Most of the others become clearly distinct -- if, for the most part, unlikable people. The Chef, bombastically crude and overbearing, is more interested in a message from his Ferrari dealer than a call from his mother. Jean-Claude refuses to take a rich woman's phone calls because "she looks like a catfish."

There's Jerry, a "friend" (and rival actor), who just has to let Sam know that he got a call-back for the show they both auditioned for, and Sam's agent's double-talking assistant (the agent won't take his calls) who informs Sam that he doesn't get parts because he displays a "lack of entitlement."

Howell zips through the ups and downs of Sam's day at the desk with nary a moment or motion wasted. Nothing drags, everything works, and even the dullest and dimmest moments turn out to be important. Cathi Anderson (lighting) embellishes Howell's performance by suggesting the energy of the phones, Michael Waters' set is worth careful inspection, and Jason Taglinetti (sound) adds other bits and pieces to the overall experience.

One night watching Howell in "Fully Committed" and you'll never think of reservationists in quite the same light.

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